Newsletter
North Dakota likely to vote on legal cannabis this year (Newsletter: August 8, 2018)
US territory lawmakers approve legalization; DC police data sheds light on marijuana enforcement; Prohibitionist funder contradicts herself
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
The House of Representatives in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, approved marijuana legalization bill. The Senate, which previously passed a similar bill, is expected to take up the legislation soon.
A Marijuana Moment analysis of Washington, D.C. police data shows that cannabis arrests are rising year over year and that racial disparities persist. Strikingly, an ongoing congressional ban on legalization of marijuana sales in the city seems to be driving a huge increase in distribution arrests as the “gifting” market grows.
North Dakota’s proposed marijuana legalization measure appears poised to qualify for the November ballot, an elections official hinted to Marijuana Moment in a phone conversation.
Major anti-legalization funder Julie Schauer claimed last year that no one ever goes to jail for marijuana possession. But now she says that a grandmother locked up for medical cannabis is “not such a big deal.” She also recently suggested that marijuana played a role in the Parkland school shooting.
/ FEDERAL
Arizona Democratic congressional candidates were asked about marijuana legalization during a debate.
/ STATES
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) said he thinks the state is not ready for marijuana legalization yet.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said it is a “myth” that prisons are full of people incarcerated for marijuana.
Oklahoma activists admitted to fabricating signature counts for proposed marijuana ballot measures. Meanwhile, a lawsuit against medical cannabis regulations is proceeding
Arizona’s attorney general decided that lawmakers can use medical cannabis patient fees to fund drug treatment programs.
Indiana lawmakers visited a hemp research facility.
A Florida court ruling striking down parts of the state’s medical cannabis regulatory scheme could spur lawmakers to amend the law.
Montana regulators won’t issue medical cannabis licenses to businesses in Billings in deference to a local prohibition on operations that violate federal law.
Connecticut Democratic gubernatorial candidates agreed on marijuana legalization during a debate.
New York Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon said she will try smoking marijuana again when it becomes legal.
North Dakota patients might not get medical cannabis access until 2019.
Massachusetts regulators will consider awarding additional marijuana business licenses on Thursday.
/ LOCAL
A Brown County, Wisconsin supervisor asked to slow consideration of his resolution calling on the state to more tightly regulate cannabis products.
The Broward County, Florida School Board voted to allow students to receive medical cannabis at schools.
The Frederick County, Maryland Board of Education is considering a proposal to restrict school employees’ use of legal medical cannabis.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Paraguay officials approved a cannabis-based medicine.
/ ADVOCACY
Anti-tobacco groups are asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop the sale of certain vaping devices.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
The National Institute on Drug Abuse announced its intent to fund research “examining the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system across a variety of pain conditions.”
/ OPINION & ANALYSIS
A survey by the NAACP found that 69% of white voters and 67% of black voters in competitive U.S. House districts would “support a law to legalize medical marijuana nationwide.”
/ BUSINESS
Privacy concerns are being raised about the practice of the Canadian Securities Exchange, which lists several cannabis companies, to publish the names and addresses of investors.
In what may or may not have been a marijuana reference, Elon Musk tweeted that he is “considering taking Tesla private at $420.”
/ CULTURE
NFL player Antonio Callaway was cited for marijuana possession.
Hemp is being grown at Mount Vernon again.
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Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.
